Sandoval County Commissioner Don Chapman is primed for four more years of action after winning his Republican primary election against challenger Michael MacDonald.

CHAPMAN: “I’ll be glad to get back to work”

In unofficial results, Chapman won 60 percent of the votes to 40 percent for MacDonald in the Republican primary for the District 3 seat on the commission. No Democrats filed to run so Chapman will go on to a second four-year term.

“I’ll be glad to get back to work,” Chapman said the day after the election. “I want to continue pursuing the initiatives that I brought to the commission in my first term.”

Chapman pushed for the county to conduct a survey that pinpointed job needs and potential areas for economic development. Recently, the commission approved the budget for the fiscal year 2015 that starts July 1, which contains $200,000 for economic development efforts.

Chapman plans to encourage more collaboration between the county and leaders in Rio Rancho, its largest city.

“It just makes sense,” Chapman said.

He would also like to see the county and city explore ways to work with private companies that build waste-to-energy plants that burn trash to generate power.

MAST: Won a 4-way race with 38 percent of vote

ZANOTTI: Won with 54 percent of the vote

Such plants could reduce the need for landfill expansion and create a revenue stream, he said.

Drainage is another priority for him. His district covers a portion of Rio Rancho north of N.M. 528 and Northern that has been hard hit by flood erosion. Chapman vows to continue lobbying for funding to complete drainage projects already underway or planned to protect that area.

The county Bureau of Elections is still reviewing provisional and in-lieu-of ballots issued on Election Day to voters whose names didn’t appear on the voter roster or who hadn’t received absentee ballots the bureau had sent them.

The county commission, acting as the canvassing board, will officially meet to canvass the results at 6 p.m. on June 12 in the County Administration Building at Idalia and N.M. 528.

GARCIA: Defeated two rivals in the primary

MADALENA: Faces no opposition in November

In other Sandoval County races, unofficial results showed:

House District 65 Representative James Roger Madalena of Jemez Pueblo defeated opponent Orlando Lucero of Bernalillo in the Democratic primary by 53 percent to 47 percent. Lucero is the outgoing District 1 commissioner. Madalena faces no opposition in the Nov. 4 general election.

County Assessor Tom Garcia had 42 percent of the votes in the Republican primary, beating rivals Leroy Lovato, who had 31 percent, and Pete Salazar, who had 27 percent. He will face Democrat Antonio Montoya in November.

In the Democratic primary for sheriff, former sheriff John Paul Trujillo lost his bid for another stab at the job to Jesse James Casaus of Placitas. Casaus had 46 percent of the votes to Trujillo’s 31 percent. Steve Reynolds trailed with 24 percent.

CASAUS: Will face GOP incumbent for sheriff post

WOOD: Current sheriff faces November challenge

Casaus will face Republican incumbent Doug Wood in the general election.

Magistrate Judge, Division 1, incumbent Richard Zanotti held on to his position in the Democratic primary, beating Daniel Tallon by 54 percent to 46 percent. No Republicans filed to run.

Bill Mast was the winner in the four-way Democratic primary for Magistrate Judge, Division 2, with 38 percent. Benito Aragon had 31 percent, Timothy Herrera 23 percent and Joseph Ramirez lagged with 9 percent of the votes. Mast has no Republican opposition in November.

In the contests for 13th Judicial District judges, Division 3, Joshua Sanchez defeated Walter Hart III in the Democratic primary by 65 percent to 35 percent. He will face Allen Smith, the winner of the Republican primary, in the general election. Smith had 66 percent of the votes, beating rival Paul Trujillo who had 34 percent.

Comments

Note: Readers can use their Facebook identity for online comments
or can use Hotmail, Yahoo or AOL accounts via the "Comment using" pulldown menu. You may send a
news tip or an anonymous comment directly to the reporter,
click here.